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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Utica chapter.

The start of a new semester can be exciting for many reasons, one of them being that it is a fresh start. I especially love the fall semester because there is excitement in the air as there are lots of new faces on campus as incoming students get settled in. However, along with the start of a new semester comes all the expenses. Coffee everyday ( a must have ),new clothes (first day of classes outfit) , and a meal plan (I guess it would be nice to eat everyday ). These are just a few of the necessities that we need to budget for. We all know that college is expensive, but that does not even include the price of the textbooks that are required!  I was in my college bookstore the other day looking to buy a book for one of my classes and it was $244! I was in shock that a tiny book could cost that much. Needless to say I rented a used copy.

For many classes you may be able to get away without actually reading the book, but I have found that as I have gotten further into my major related classes, not reading the book is not going to cut it anymore. This semester I got all of the books for my classes. You bet that I am going to do all of the reading assignments. I set high standards for myself because it keeps me motivated to do better. My last two semesters I wish I had done just a little bit better in my classes to achieve my goal GPA. This semester I am determined to do better than I have in the past and I think that reading the books will give me that extra push. I have done a good job staying on track with all the reading, although I’ll admit I am behind. If you tend to have a hard time reading textbooks, use colorful post it notes to help you stay on task, bright highlighters, or create an incentive for yourself if you finish X amount of pages.

All my textbooks are specific to my major, so I have found that I actually enjoy reading them most of the time. I am a Psychology Child Life major.  Therefore, all my books are about development and how to play with children. Personally I also find psychology to be a really intriguing subject anyway.  

Moral of the story, I think it is a really good idea to read the required text for classes because it will most likely lead you to getting better grades and understanding the material you are learning in class. Who knows, maybe you might actually like what you are reading about!

 

Obsessive cat lover and crafter!I am a Sophmore at Utica college with a major in Psychology Child-Life Major. I hope to work with children in the hospital someday.
Bianca Nitti

Utica '20

Meet Bianca, I am currently a Junior at Utica College in Utica, NY.  I am a Criminal Justice major with a concentration in Homeland Security.  Crime investigation has always been something that interests me.  I’m dedicated and passionate and it’s hard for me to quit things. I get that from my father so don’t hold it against me- he was a veteran and police officer for 20 years.   Growing up in a family centered around law enforcement has helped guide me in this direction, and I will forever be grateful.  After graduation I intend to continue on to law school where I can further my education in hopes of becoming a criminal defense lawyer and later on a District Attorney.  An interesting fact about myself is that I found the passion to be a criminal defense lawyer from watching the O.J. Simpson case.  The facts and conspiracy theories evoked a whole new passion behind criminal investigation that I intend to use in my future.  One of my most prominent moments in my writing career was when I wrote for an online magazine and had my most prevalent article hit 1.6k shares.  I believe in treating people with the same kind of respect and manners you would expect in return, and in a way it has helped shaped my expectations in life.   When you first meet me I won’t be the loudest in the room or the center of attention, but I will be intently listening to everything you say, for what you have to say may have a purpose. I believe in purpose. I believe that everyone is here to help you grow into who you are today and who you will be tomorrow.